When does my pet insurance coverage start? What is a waiting period and how does it work?

Oyen's Waiting Period Explained

When you purchase an Oyen pet insurance policy, a 30-day waiting period is now applied to veterinary medical claims related to illnesses or symptoms. This means that, during this initial 30-day period, any illnesses, signs, or symptoms that occur are not eligible to be covered under insurance.

How Does the Waiting Period Work?

For example, if you buy your Oyen Pet Insurance on March 2nd (considered Day 1), you can only begin claiming for veterinary medical expenses relating to illnesses or symptoms starting on March 31st (known as Day 30).

To make this clearer 💡: if your pet's symptoms occur on day 12, and you decide to visit the vet on day 30 - this is still considered a claim that falls within the waiting period as the symptoms occurred already on day 12.

Any earliest signs, symptoms, or illnesses that fall before your policy starts and within the 30-day waiting period are considered a pre-existing condition and are not eligible for claims anymore, for any insurance policies. 🙏🏻

Hence, it is always a good time to start your insurance policy as early as possible to avoid any symptoms occurring within the waiting period.

What Isn't Covered During the Waiting Period?

During these 30 days, any illnesses or symptoms that appear or are diagnosed are not covered under the policy. This includes conditions that become apparent during the waiting period, regardless of whether they are newly developed or previously existing, or whether you have visited the vet for this illness or symptom.

Renewals and Breaks in Coverage

If you renew your policy without interruption, the waiting period is waived as a thank you for your continued loyalty. However, if there's any break or lapse in your coverage, the 30-day waiting period will be reinstated when you rejoin.

Exceptions

The waiting period does not apply to claims related to accidents or injuries. These are covered within 1 day of purchasing your policy.

Why Is There a Waiting Period?

The waiting period is an industry-standard designed to maintain fairness and sustainability. There is a waiting period for medical insurance, regardless of for humans or pets. It protects our community of responsible pet owners by ensuring that insurance is used as a proactive measure for pet health, rather than a reactive solution to pre-existing issues.

Note: All policy terms and conditions apply, and we encourage our policyholders to familiarise themselves with these to fully understand the scope of their coverage.